Pennsylvania's current notary law, found at 57 Pa.C.S. Chapter 3, is formally known by which name?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. §§ 301, 303: Short title; applicability
Pennsylvania Notary Exam · Commission
Pennsylvania Notary Exam Practice Questions: Getting Your Commission (2026)
To become a Pennsylvania notary you must be at least 18, complete a three-hour course, pass the state exam and post a bond, all set out in the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (57 Pa.C.S. § 321). You apply to the Department of State with a $42 fee, take the Pearson VUE exam, then file a $10,000 surety bond, your oath and your commission with your county recorder of deeds within 45 days. The commission runs four years.
Practice
Free practice questions
What is the minimum age to apply for appointment and commission as a Pennsylvania notary public?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(a): Eligibility
What is the nonrefundable fee that must accompany an application for appointment and commission as a Pennsylvania notary public?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(b): Application
After being appointed but before receiving a commission, what must a Pennsylvania notary applicant execute?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(c): Oath or affirmation
How does 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d) set the amount of the surety bond a notary applicant must obtain?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d): Bond
Within how many days of appointment or reappointment must a Pennsylvania notary register their official signature in the county "Notary Register"?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d.1): Official signature
Which three items must a new appointee record in the office of the recorder of deeds within 45 days of appointment?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d.2): Recording and filing
For what term is a Pennsylvania notary public commission issued?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(e): Issuance
What happens to a notary's commission if they fail to register their signature or record their bond, oath and commission as required?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(f): Effect
Which applicants must pass the Pennsylvania notary public examination?
Based on: RULONA 57 Pa.C.S. § 322(a): Examination
Eligibility and the application
Pennsylvania sets a short list of gateway requirements before anyone may apply. Under 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(a) an applicant must be at least 18 years old, be a citizen or permanent legal resident, live or work in Pennsylvania, and be able to read and write English. The application goes to the Department of State with a nonrefundable $42 fee under § 321(b)(2), which covers both the application and the bond filing. The exam itself is a separate $65 charge paid to Pearson VUE, the testing vendor, not to the Commonwealth.
- Minimum age 18, per 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(a)(1).
- A three-hour approved basic education course completed in the six months before you apply, per 57 Pa.C.S. § 322(b).
- A passing exam result, valid for one year.
Bond, oath and the four-year term
Passing the exam does not make you a notary. After the department approves you, 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d) requires a $10,000 surety bond, executed by an insurance company authorised to do business in the Commonwealth, covering acts performed during your term. You must register your official signature within 45 days under § 321(d.1), and under § 321(d.2) you must record the bond, oath of office and commission with the recorder of deeds in the county where you keep an office, within 45 days of appointment and before you perform any notarial act. A copy of the bond and oath is then filed with the department within 90 days of recording. Only once those steps are complete does your four-year commission under § 321(e) actually begin. Renewal, defined in 4 Pa. Code § 167.2, is the same process repeated to obtain another four-year term.
| Requirement | Pennsylvania rule (statute) |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 years (57 Pa.C.S. § 321(a)(1)) |
| Application fee | $42, nonrefundable (57 Pa.C.S. § 321(b)(2)) |
| Education | 3 hours, within 6 months before applying (57 Pa.C.S. § 322(b)) |
| Exam fee | $65 per attempt, paid to Pearson VUE |
| Surety bond | $10,000 (57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d)) |
| Recording deadline | Within 45 days of appointment (57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d.2)) |
| Commission term | 4 years (57 Pa.C.S. § 321(e)) |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What are the eligibility requirements to become a notary in Pennsylvania?
Under 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(a), a Pennsylvania notary applicant must be at least 18 years old, be a citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States, live or work in Pennsylvania, be able to read and write English, and not be disqualified for certain prior offences. You apply to the Department of State.
How much is the bond for a Pennsylvania notary?
Pennsylvania requires a $10,000 surety bond under 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d), executed by an insurance company authorised in the Commonwealth and covering acts performed during your four-year term. This protects the public, not you, so many notaries also buy separate errors-and-omissions insurance to cover their own liability.
How long does a Pennsylvania notary commission last?
A Pennsylvania notary commission runs for four years under 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(e). To keep it, you renew by repeating the application process before it expires, as defined in 4 Pa. Code § 167.2. If your commission lapses even by one day, the Department of State treats you as a new applicant who must retake the exam.
When must I record my bond and oath in Pennsylvania?
Within 45 days of appointment, and before performing any notarial act, you must record your bond, oath of office and commission with the recorder of deeds in your county under 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(d.2). A copy of the bond and oath must then be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State within 90 days of recording.
Practice questions